Laterally foldable sponge type mop device



June 30, 1959 v A, K. PETERsoN ETAL LATERALLY FOLDABLE SPONGE TYPE MOP DEVICE Fired March 25, 195i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 5/A/ ,6. Pf 723650/1/ 14M A 4 E June 30, 1959 A. K. PETERSON ET AL 2,892,201

LA'TERALLY FOLDAELE sPoNGE TYPE MOP DEVICE Filed March 25. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7@ a zar/6.3.

`vine e hiep United ,States Patent 2,892,201 FoLDABLEsPoNGE TYPE Moi DEVICE anni K. referida narnia-e J. Petersen, Terrence', cani.

Application March 25, 19157, `Serial No. 548,068 9 (ci.1";1 19) This invention relates t mop 'device'and'more particularly to a inopdevice employing" a resilient compressible sponge mop element adapted to be folded about its transverse or lateral axis for squeezing or wringing water Prior proposed mop devices utilizing absorbent sponge mop elements haveincluded complicated linkage arrangements in order toV compress or' squeeze the mop element.

SomeI 'prior devices have "relied `upon the resiliency of the sponge mop element to return the mopelement to proper open position for use. In such prior devices, wear on the mop element and, age reduce the resiliency of the mop ele- 'inent so that beforel such a mop element was completely vworn out andunusable, difficulty was had in properly extending" the elementinto openr position. Other prior proposed'devices include'means for folding such a mop velement about its longitudinal airis tosqueeze water there- `from 'and' these prior'devices usually required use of a lever adjacent to the mop element which usually resulted "in ywetting of the hands of the' user.

This invention contemplates a novel construction of a mop device which obviatesfthe disadvantages of prior proposed inop devices and includes a construction in which the sponge mop element ispositively moved to either `open or folded position without reliance upon the resilient Ycharacteristics of the sponge element. The invention contemplatesa simple effective mop construction in which wringing Yof the mop' element is accomplished by movelment longitudinally o fjthe ymop handle `means and at a `distancegsuiciently spacedf'rom the `mop element 'so thatv handfsoffthe operator will not be wetted. y

An objectof` this invention is to disclose and provide aV simple effective positive in operation mop device of onsffefioe y Anwobject'ofthisjinvention is to disclose and provide a 'inop device adapted to aumatically position a rectangular `cross-section sponge mop element in proper floor- Another ect of invention is to disclose and proenployd for .ressing a Asponge-type lrnop element.`

A object of Athis invention is to disclose and 'fie a] i110? dvieewhe a feld-@ble mop 'means iS vsupported and carried in such a manner that virtually uniform prgssure 'is transmitted to the mop element throughout its floor-engaging surface.

,A still further object of thisk invention is to disclose 4Vand provide a mop device including :guide means to twist `aniopeleme'nt into selected 'floorengaging position "in pressing e inopnieans in'ffoldediela'tien and for positively extending the folded mop means into open position by wherein "positive pressurermea'ns are` ice movement of the guide means longitudinally relativeto the handle means. W

Generally speaking, this invention contemplates a novel construction of a mop device which includes a handle means having its lower end hingedly connected to a nop means including a compressibleresilient sponge mop element. Slidably mounted on thehandle means is a yoke means including a VApair of T-section guide members presenting opposed pressure and guide slide faces extending parallel to the, axis of the handle means and curvin'g divergently outwardly to terminate in spaced extremities provided vwith stop meansV The foldable mop means Vcarries a pinofnguide {shoesfslidably embraceabl'y cothe handle means-hiya pini-and curved slot connection. whereby. the moplmeansin open position is turned about an axis parallel to. itslongitudinal axisso'as .to position the, noot-engagingsur'face-'of the mop means in-selectd" 'angular relation tothe axis ofthe-handle means.

These and many other objects of this invention vwill be readily apparentfrom the following description-ofthe `drawings, in whic exemplary embodiments ofthis invention aresh'own.' ""f I e i In the p Pie: 1 isn vr Uffa inopdevice inopenposition shewmg 'e prjffei "denibeeinieiifei-ihisinvention. 1 Y,

Fig". 2'is `a" fragmn'taryfvievv ofthe-mop .device shown in Fig. 1"'v`vith the inop means yin folded compressed position. `f` f Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in dic'ated `by line IIQI---III 'of-Fig. l.

Fig. 4 i's a Vtransversesection taken `inthe planermel dieeted by une ivL-Iv of Fig. V2.

Fig. 5 is a vfront view of a inop device showing,

ent 'embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 6` is afragmentary 'view showingzthe mop device f of Fig'. 5, withthe` mop means-,in folded compressed? position., V

Fig. 7, is a, sectional'viewtahen in theplane indicated byline VII- Vugt Eig. .8 isa sectional `v wetakenin the plane'indicated byline WIL-V111 efii 7j.

The'preferred mbodiient owthis linvention shownin i Figs.` 1 te r4v ineiusivewiu pe niet; inscribed. AE mop' de vice indicatediat 15 may generally includea handle means* 16, a mop means l?, attachment means 19 for hingedly connecting abouttran'sverse Vaxes the mop means 17 tothe handle means 16 andfor pivotally connecting-,the L mopmeans '417 to the handle means 16 for movement about the longitudinal axis of the mop means; Slidably mounted onhandle means16 may be a pressure andguide yoke means. 13 connected to the mop me'anss 17 aslater:

described.,

The handle means 16 may 'bemade of any suitable/'maiterial. such as wood and may beofelongated cylindricaif form.r Adjacent its lower end, handle means 16 may provided with a reduced portion 20 defining a downward- Y lyfacing stop shoulder 21 serving as an upper stopmean's for relative longitudinal movement of yoke meansll.

The lower end of reduced portion 20 may `beiitted ini ai socket 22 of a fitting 23, said socket 22 presenting-ian upwardly directed edge face 24 which may serve asa stop-.1 means limiting relative movement of the yoke meansg18` The fitting .23 mayf'include a pair of spaced -dependingported lugs 25. adapted to'- in the opposite direction.

therein will permit the attachment means to readily move relative to the pin. The web 28 may be integrally formed with a furcated hinge portion 30 which may provided at each side thereof a pair of spaced hinge sections 31 defining a pair of spaced hinge axes transverse to mop means-,17.

'I'he mop means 17 may comprise a pair of longitudinally spaced pressure plates 34, each plate being of channel section and including a web 35 and edge flanges 36 to reinforce and rigidify the pressure plate.v The juxtaposed ends of pressure plates 34 may be provided with hinge sections 37 formed by turning strip extensions of webs 35 about transverse axes. Suitable hinge pins 38 may be sleeved through hinge sections 37 and 31 to hingedly connect the pressure plates 34 to the attachment means 19.

The mop means 17 also includes an elongated rectangular cross-section resilient absorbent compressible sponge mop element 40 which provides a floor-engaging or working surface 41 and which may be made of suitable well known material. The opposite surface 42 of mop element 40 may be secured to a pair of attachment plates 43 by any suitable bonding, cementing, or adhesive means well known in -the art. The attachment plates 43 underlie pressure plates 34 and may be secured thereto as by 'securement bolts 44, each having a threaded portion extending through a port in base 35 and above the top surface of base 35 to receive a knurled securement nut 45. Other releasable securement means may be used to fasten mop means 17 to pressure plates 34, it being understood that the mop element 40 when worn out-may be readily removed from the pressure plates by unfastening such exemplary securement means.

The pressure and guide yoke means 18 is carried by handle means 16 and is movable longitudinally relative thereto for moving mop element 40 into folded compressed position (Fig. 2), and into extended open position (Fig. 1). The yoke means 18 may comprise an elongated hollow sleeve portion 48 ensleeved over reduced handle portion 20 and slidable therealong for selective positioning against either stop shoulder 21 or stop face 24. Sleeve portion 48 may include an outer diameter virtually the same as the outer diameter of the non-reduced portion of handle means 16. "Ihe top end of sleeve portion 48 `may be beveled at 49 so that the hand of an operator will not be pinched against shoulder 21 .when the mop is moved to open position.

Extending from the bottom of the sleeve portion 48 may be a pair of parallel spaced pressure and guide leg members 51 of T-cross section with outwardly directed webs 52 lying in a plane passing through the axis of the sleeve portion 48 and curving outwardly and terminating in tapered 'bottom web portions 53. Cross flanges 54 of T-section members 51 may be integral with the peripheral edge of webs 52 and may extend in spaced parallel relation -for a major portion of their length along the extended axis of the sleeve portion 48. The cross anges 54 present opposed pressure and guide slide faces 55.

`The cross flanges 54 also curve outwardly in divergent relation and in this example are twisted in said curved portion. Outwardly of the curved portions, the flanges 54 terminate in end extremities 56 having distal guide surface portions or faces 55 lying in a plane disposed in a selected angular relation to the axis of sleeve portion 48. This plane may lie parallel to the plane of the front engaging surface or work face portions 41. The twist of the cross anges 54 serves to cause the mop element 40 to turn about pin 26 through the pin and slot 4 connection of the attachment means so that the oor engaging surface 41 may lie parallel to a oor surface with the handle means 16 inclined at a convenient angle so as to facilitate manipulation of the mop device.

The end extremities 56 of the members 51 may each be provided with a downwardly curved end lip 58 serving as a stop means to limit and steady the mop means 17 in open position against lateral displacement.

The mop means 17 may carry a pair of guide shoes 60 for cooperable sliding guiding engagement with cross anges 54 of guide members 51. Each guide shoe 60 may be cast integral and may comprise a at, generally rectangular base 61 secured to base 35 of a pressure plate 34 adjacent the central portion thereof. The top surface of base 61 may be provided with a transverse guide and pressure-receiving means or rib 62 having a convex curvature. At opposite ends of ribs 62 the shoe may include inwardly extending arms 63 spaced from ribs 62 and defining therewith a recess 64 adapted to loosely, slidably receive edge margins 65 of the cross iiange 54 of the guide member. The arms 63 in the example may be of cylindrical form.

rFrom a consideration of Figs. 1 and 3, it will be apparent that when mop means 17 is in open position, the twisting curvature of anges 54 have guided the mop element 40 into a position with face 41 in a plane at an angle of the axis of handle means 16. Pin 26 is positioned against one end of slot 29. The mop element 40 will be retained in this position without any turning about pin 25 because of the rigidity of guide member 51 and the embraceable, cooperable engagement by arms 63 of edge margins 65 in recesses 64. In such open position, the sleeve portion 48 is in abutment against stop shoulder 21 and as the mop device is pushed across a floor surface, the pushing force is transmitted from handle means 16 to sleeve portion 48 through the rigid guide members 54 to their extremities and against the pressure ribs 62 of guide shoes 60. The force is transmitted to the pressure plates 34 at their central portion and is distributed relatively uniformly over the face 41 of the mop element 40. It will -be apparent that virtually no load is imposed upon the hinge connections at pins 38.

When it is desired to rinse and squeeze mop element 40, the sleeve portion 48 is grasped in one hand and the handle means 16 moved relative thereto so as to bring the lower end of sleeve portion 48 into abutting contact with the edge face 24 of socket 22. At the commencement of such motion, the guide shoes 60 are caused to slide along faces 55 of the cross flanges 54. As the attachment means 19 is moved ybetween guide members 51, the pressure plates are caused to assume an angularly-related position. As the guide shoes move further along guide faces 55, the mop element 40 is twisted so that face 41 lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve portion 48. Also during this movement, the mop element 40 is caused to fold or bend about its lateral axis or transverse central portion. As the sleeve portion approaches the stop face 24, the rigid construction of the guide members causes the pressure plates to be urged into virtually parallel position, completely folding the mop element 40 and compressing said mop element so as to squeeze and Wring water therefrom. It will be noted that in folded position (Fig. 2), the guide and pressure faces 55 bear against the convex pressure ribs 62 and the amount of compression of the mop element 40 is dependent on the spacing of the guide and pressure faces 55 of the guide mem- 'bers 51.

It will he readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the guide members 51 define a pre-selected curved pathway for the guide shoes 60 and that the webs of the T-section guide members serve to rigidify the leg members so that pressure forces may be readily applied to the sponge mop element. It will also be apparent that the resiliency of the sponge mop element is not relied upon to position the mop means in open position but that the assegni pressure plates are urged into longitudinal alignment by the positive action of the outwardly curved end portions `of the guide members.

Vthat described in the prior embodiment and may include a pair of pressure plates 34 having removably attached thereto a mop element of trapezoidal cross-section having its floor-engaging surface 41 disposed at a selected angle to the axis of handle means 16 for full face floor engagement when the handle is inclined during use. Each pressure plate 34 is provided with a hinge connection to the hinge legs 71 as at 72.

Fl `he yoke means 18 differs from that in the prior embodiment in that the sleeve portion 48' is provided with Van inner bore adapted to slidably receive the uniform section of the handle means 16. From the sleeve portion 48 may depend spaced T-section guide and pressure members 51' each being formed with a web 52 and a cross flange V54' extending to the end extremities of the member 51'. In this embodiment, the anges S4' of the guide members El curve outwardly and divergently but do not twist. The end extremities of flanges 54 may be provided with transverse depending lips 58' serving as positive stops against lateral displacement of mop means 17 in open position. A lixed collar 73 on handle means 16 limits relative movement of sleeve portion 48 and handle means 16 and serves to transmit pressure force from the handle to the yoke means 18.

Each pressure plate 34 may be provided with a guide shoe 60 of slightly different construction than shoe 60 of the prior construction. Each guide shoe 60 may include a Vbase 74 provided with a pair of upstanding side walls 75 forming a U-section. A freely rotatable cylinder or roll 7'6 may extend transversely between said walls 75 and may be supported by a coaxial shaft 77 having its ends secured in suitable manner in side walls 75. Each side wall 75 includes an upwardly directed portion 78 providing a rotatable mounting for arm rollers 79 carried by pins 80 secured in portions 78. Rollers 79 are spaced longitudinally from the cylinder 76 and lie above said cylinder so that the'rollers may engage the top edge margins of flanges 54.

ln extended open position, it will be readily apparent that pressure applied to handle i6 will be transmitted as before through the yoke means 18 and to the centrally disposed shoes 60 by the end portions of the yguide members I and through the rolls 76. When the yoke means l5" andh'andle means 16 Vare moved relative to each other to fold and compress the mop element 40', the arm rollers 79 and rotatable cylinders 76 roll freely and without bending along the guide and pressure faces 55 of the guide members 51 so as to move the pressure plates 34 from longitudinally aligned relation to parallel opposed relation. As shown in Fig. 6, the guide faces 55 of the guide members 5l' positively cause compression of the folded mop element 40 when the pressure plates are drawn into such parallel relation between the guide members 51. In this embodiment, it will be apparent that the mop element is drawn lbetween the guide members 51' for a substantial distance and that such relative movement may be limited by abutment of the fitting 70 with the bottom face of the sleeve portion 4S as in the prior embodiment.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the preferred embodiment of this invention and the last described embodiment show rigid pressure and guide members which positively define a pre-selected curvilinear path for cooperable guide shoes carried by pressure plates t s t of the'm'p means. Such pathway positively-guides the mop element into and between its opened andffolded positions. It will also be 'readily apparent that `the construction of the guide shoes. and of the inoperable T-section guide members are relatively simple and inexpensive and that there are a minimum of parts and `pivotal connections. If desired, the sponge mop element is readily ydetached from pressure plates 3S and a wax brush, pad, or a broom, a squeeg'ee, or the like may be attached to. the pressure plates. In such `a use of the. handle and yoke 'construction described above, itlwill` be understood that the wax brush` squeeg'ee, or the likenwould not'be subject to the folding and unfilding of a sponge mop` element and that such additionalaccssories may include a backing member which would be readily attachableeby the securement nuts 45.

It will be understood Athat various modifications and changes may be made in the ernb'odi'.ments.of `this invention described above and all sueh lmocliicatious-"and changes coming within the scope of t'he'appendcd claims are embraced thereby.

We claim: Y p Y* l. In a mop device, the combination of: a handle means; mop means including a compressible elongated mop element having a longitudinal axis, a lateral and a pair of spaced pressure plates attached thereto; attachment means on the handle means hingedly 'connected to adjacent ends ofthe pressure plates and provided with a slot and pin pivotal connection to said handle means, said pin being disposed with its parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mop element; yoke means carried by the handle means and movable longitudinally relative thereto for movingthe mop element between folded position and extended opengposition, said mop element, in extended position having thelateral axis of the mop element disposed at an acute angle the axis of the handle means, said yoke meansy comprising rigid guide means having selectively curved guide faces extending from alongside the lower portion of the handle means into outwardly flared twisted relation thereto; and guide shoes carried on said pressure plates slidable along said guide faces. n

2. In a mop device, the combination of: a handle means; mop means including a compressible elongated mop element having a lateral axis anda pair of spaced pressure plates attached thereto; attachment means on the handle means hingedly connected to opposed ends f said spaced pressure plates, said attachmentmeansincluding pin and curved slot means pivotally interconnecting the end of said handle means and the, attachment means for movement of said, mop element about said pin; yokemeans carried by the handle means and movable longitudinally relative thereto for moving 4the mop element into folded compressed and extended yopen positions, said yoke means comprisfingfa sleeve means ensleeved on the handle means, anda pair of" spaced pressure members having opposed pressure faces having portions lying parallel to the handle means and portions divergently outwardly curved and twisted with extremities terminating opposite the central portions of the pressure plates; and means on the pressure plates cooperably slidably engaging the faces on said pressure members whereby said pressure faces compress and squeeze said mop element when said mop element is folded and whereby said curved and twisted pressure faces turn said mop element about said pin to extend the mop element in open position with the lateral axis of the mop element at aA selected acute angle to the axis of the handle means.

3. In a mop device, the combination of: a handle means; elongated mop means hingedly connected to one end of the handle means for folding of said mop means and pivotally connected to the handle means for turning about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mop means; means carried by the handle means and movable longitudinally relative thereto for compressing the mop means in folded position and for extending the mop `means into open position, said means including guide 'means extending in spaced parallel relation alongside and guide surface portions in parallel spaced opposed relation and parallel to the axis of the sleeve portion for compressing said mop element therebetween in a folded relation and having pressure and guide surface portions curving divergently outwardly at the ends of said guide members to extend said element and terminating in an end surface portion lying in a plane susbtantially perpendicular to said first mentioned guide surfaces; and stop means at the ends of said guide members.

5. A yoke means as stated in claim 4 wherein said pressure and guide surface portions which curve divergently outwardly include twisting of said outwardly diverging surface portions about the axes of the guide members.

. 6. In a mop device including a handle having a longitudinal axis, the provision of: a foldable mop element extending transversely of the handle axis and having 'working face portions normally in a common plane inclined and transverse to the handle axis; connecting means pivotally connecting the mop element to the end of the handle for pivotal movement about a transverse axis whereby inclination of the plane of the working face to the handle axis may be varied and for hinged movement about axes at right angles to the pivotal movement; a generally U-shaped yoke selectively movable on said handle and including leg portions providing guide surface portions extending in spaced parallel relation to said handle, said guide surface portions smoothly merging into divergently outwardly directed surface portions turned about the axis of the leg portions and terminating in distal guide surface portions lying in a plane parallel to the inclined plane of the work face portions, each leg portion cooperating with an end portion of the mop element whereby movement of said yoke along said handle axis is translated into a hinged folding motion of the mop element about the hinged axes with working face portions of the mop element in pressure contact in a plane containing an extension of the handle axis.

7. In a mop device including a handle having a longitudinal axis, the provision of: a foldable mop element extending transversely of the handle axis and having working face portions normally in a common plane transverse to the handle axis; guide engagement means carried by the mop element at end portions thereof; connecting means pivotally connecting the mop element to the end of the handle for hinged movement about axes transverse to the mop element; a generally U-shaped yoke selectively movable on said handle and including leg portions providing elongated internal guide and pressure surfaces facing each other and spaced apart in parallel relation to receive therebetween and to compress the mop element in folded relation, said guide and pressure surfaces smoothly outwardly diverging into distal laterally spaced guide surfaces lying in a common plane generally normal to said pressure surfaces for positioning the working face portions of the mop element, said leg portions cooperating with said guide engagement means on the mop element whereby movement of said yoke along said handle axis is translated into a hinged folding motion of the mop element about the hinged axis with working face portions of the mop element in pressure contact in a plane containing an extension of the handle axis.

8. In a mop device, the combination of: a handle means; elongated mop means hingedly connected to one end of the handle means for folding of said mop means; means including a generally U-shaped yoke carried by the handle means and movable longitudinally relative thereto for compressing the mop means in folded position and for extending the mop means into open position, said U-shaped yoke including guide members extending in spaced parallel relation alongside the lower portion of the handle means and provided with internal pressure faces for compressing said mop element therebetween in folded relation when the yoke is moved toward the hinge connection, said guide members further extending into outwardly flared relation and terminating in end portions lying in a common plane generally normal to said pressure faces; and means carried in spaced relation on said mop means cooperably engageable with said guide members for positively guiding the mop means into folded and open position.

9. A mop device as stated in claim 8 wherein said end portions include stop means for said means carried in spaced relation on said mop means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,730,742 Zottola Jan. 17, 1956 2,730,744 Vaughn Jan. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 396,469 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1933 466,474 Canada July 11, 1950 521,121 Canada Jan. 24, 1956 617,197 Germany Aug. 14, 1935 738,613 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1955 

